James Rodriguez was offered to Manchester United for £5 million – but Sir Alex Ferguson signed Bebe

Manchester United fans have been left cursing what might have been after reports surfaced that the club turned down the chance to sign Colombian sensation James Rodriguez for just £5 million in order to bring in super-flop Bebe.

The Red Devils were offered the playmaker through South American intermediaries when Rodriguez was just a promising teenager, but, according to the Guardian, Sir Alex Ferguson ignored their advances.

Instead, United scouts identified unknown Vitoria Guimaraes striker Bebe, and Ferguson signed the Portuguese forward for £7.8m less than five weeks after the Rodriguez deal was proposed to Old Trafford.

Flop: Bebe (picture: Getty Images)

Bebe has made just two league appearances to date for United, and has spent the last three seasons farmed out on loan.

Rodriguez, who was establishing himself with Banfield in Argentina at the time he was offered to United, was eventually snapped up by Andre Villas-Boas in 2010 for just £4m, and signed for Monaco last season in a whopping £38.5m deal before going on to star in this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

Does this top David Moyes’ appointment as Ferguson’s worst ever decision as United boss?